J-K admin will work in mission mode for development of tribals: Lt Governor

Srinagar, Sep 13 (PTI):
Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said the administration is working continuously at different levels to safeguard the rights of tribals and will work in a mission mode for their development and betterment.
The LG was speaking at a ceremony for implementation of the ‘Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights Act)’ in J-K where he handed over individual and community right certificates to the beneficiaries of Gujjar-Bakerwal and Gaddi-Sippi communities. Describing the occasion as “historic”, Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making it possible to implement the Act in the Union Territory, and said the move will usher a new era of empowerment and prosperity for the deprived tribal population here. “I thank the PM Modi because of whom on December 1, 2020, we implemented the Forest Rights Act. Before 2019, many central laws were not implemented here.
“The J-K administration, especially the Forest Department and the Tribal Affairs Department, has started the endeavour to do something for the development of these communities,” he said. The LG said about 20,000 applications were received and while several people have been given the certificates, all those eligible will be given the rights.
“Apart from the Forest Rights Act, the J-K administration has programmes for their education and health, and I am satisfied that we will be successful in joining the community with the mainstream,” he said. “It is not just the Forest Rights Act that has been implemented, but I want to tell you that you will also get job reservations and political reservations,” he added. Sinha said the tribals in J-K had waited for a long time for their rights.
“It has been a long time. Your emotions were played with, you were used as a vote bank, but no care was taken about your needs. “It is not a political issue for me, but when I came here from Delhi, the PM told me two-three important things, one of which was to ensure the total implementation of the Forest Rights Act with honesty and giving rights to everyone. I can say today that it is a good start,” he said.